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Where are you based Michelle?
Based in Los Angeles, California, USA (via Topanga).
When did you first take a bass in
your hands? Summer between
junior and senior year in high school. It was an upright named Scratchy
(great tone but the body looked like an Etch-a-Sketch).
What attracted you to playing
bass? I was always involved in
music, mostly as a singer, but I had played flute and percussion for a
while in my earlier youth. When I was ending my junior year in high
school, I wanted to play in the orchestra again (I'd been away for 3
years), and they didn't need a flute. But they needed a bass, and if I was
willing to learn over the summer, I could play with the orchestra in the
fall. So, I studied with a player in the local symphony. He was awesome
and very tolerant of me.
Did you play any other instrument
before you started playing bass?
Yes, flute and percussion, and I picked up the oboe for a little bit. Also
clarinet for a bit. And I've been a singer since before I can remember.
Can you remember the first piece
you ever learned on bass? On
upright, it was probably "Fantasy On Greensleeves" by Ralph Vaughan
Williams. On electric, which I picked up several years ago when asked to
sing in a band and they needed a bass player (so I volunteered after many
years away from playing), I think it was "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Cream.
I was absorbing as many songs and bass licks as I could at the same time
to get up to speed.
What was your very first public
performance? On upright, the
fall concert at my high school. In LA, on electric, it was at this great
little place in Santa Monica called Anastasia's Asylum. The bands perform
from a loft upstairs, so it helped quell my nerves a little that people
could only listen and not watch me make mistakes.
What¹s your current band?
After five years as the lead singer and
bass player of the very successful LA indie band, Moe Jones, I'm now the
lead singer, bass player, and principal songwriter for a great new band
called Crazy Aunt Mary. We'll be producing our first album in a couple of
months.
What¹s your main bass?
With Moe Jones, it was my Ibanez Expressionist. But now that I'm playing
with Crazy Aunt Mary, I prefer my Vaccaro X-Ray. It's smaller, and I keep
it strung with flat wounds. It gives a more subtle performance.
Body colour/wood?
Magenta (purple) sparkle with a maple body.
Neck/fingerboard?
Maple neck with aluminum V headstock and
ebonol fingerboard.
What strings to you like best?
Flat wounds, Thomastik, round
wounds, Blue Steel.
What is your backline bass amp
setup? An Ashdown EVO 500 amp
and ABM-115-300 speaker.
Fingers, plectrum or both?
Fingers.
What type of music do you play?
Very eclectic. Rock based, but infused with jazz, blues, and folk.
Currently we're doing edgier acoustic material.
Who do you listen to when you¹re
not playing? In the car I love
to jump around on the radio and be constantly surprised by who I listen to
next. I like variety and so many different kinds of music. At home, I
listen to classical a lot. It soothes my savage beast, and the dogs like
it.
Have you recorded/released any CDs? With Moe Jones, we recorded and
released the CD "Cup of Joe." Crazy Aunt Mary will be recording its first
CD in December.
What was your best gig/venue
ever? Opening for Ambrosia at
The Key Club on the Sunset Strip. It was a wonderful night, a great crowd,
and everything went perfect. I'd even given myself the challenge of
playing a walking bass riff while speaking to the crowd and introducing
the rest of the band, and I didn't screw it up.
What was your worst moment
onstage? I've had some funky
moments as an actor, but none that stand out as a musician. Playing
together with other great guys, we always cover for each other, always
have fun. And if I blow lyrics, they're my lyrics. Who would know?
What¹s your favourite album/CD?
Everything by Steely Dan (honourable mention "Hounds of Love" by Kate
Bush). I started to list many more (Randy Newman, Leo Kottke, The B-52's,
Cat Stevens, to name a few), but I really have too many favorites.
Do you own any other instruments?
A flute.
Do you sing?
Yes, I do sing.
Did you ever perform onstage
without your bass? Yes, as both
a singer and an actor.
What¹s your opinion on basses
with more than 4 strings? Some
people like them. They're not for me. Probably because I started on
upright. But there are times when I'd like to go lower than an E without
tuning down.
What do you feel is the
bass-players function in a band?
In my band, I'm the lead singer and front person, which is not generally
traditional for the bass player. I don't know. I think I make my guys feel
grounded and sure of themselves.
Did you ever have a famous person
in your audience?
Possibly, you never know in LA. But no one ever identified themselves to
me. I have had as an actor. I've worked with a couple, too.
What are your ambitions?
Have the most fun anyone ever had,
do what I want, and when I make money at it, so much the better.
Anything else?
My guitarist and drummer are the most awesome guys in the world! (see
website on Links page - Ed.)
thanks to
Michelle for being part of BassGirls.Com
text and images are copyright
of Michelle Holmes and
BassGirls.Com
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